# Manus vs Head Model Studio

The clearest difference is price: Head Model Studio at Free against Manus's $1.99. Head Model Studio also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.9) and update cadence (monthly vs every 31 months). Manus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#25 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Head Model Studio is free to download; Manus costs $1.99 up front. Head Model Studio sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.00 per month. Manus asks for nothing beyond the download.

Head Model Studio holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Head Model Studio has 2.5K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Manus's written reviews are positive against 76% of Head Model Studio's.

Manus ships an update every 31 months, Head Model Studio monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Manus | Head Model Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manus-hand-reference-for-art/id1326075156/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/head-model-studio-art-study/id1527028690/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **76.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 31 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Best chart rank | **#25** | — |
| Size | 84 MB | 2.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tomi Nevalainen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1271805172) | [Wes Castain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527028692) |

## What reviewers say

### Manus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manus-hand-reference-for-art/id1326075156)

**Currently charting:** #25 Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

This app provides a 3D hand reference tool for artists. Easily create and customize an unlimited number of hand poses by rotating, bending, and adjusting fingers. Features male and female models with pre-made poses for quick access.

**Highlights:** 3D male and female hand models, Customizable finger bending and rotation, Pre-made hand poses, Adjustable lighting, Save and load custom poses, Export poses as image files

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Head Model Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/head-model-studio-art-study/id1527028690)

Master portrait drawing with detailed 3D head models. Study facial planes and geometry with customizable lighting and rendering options. Perfect for artists looking to elevate their sketching skills.

**Highlights:** Detailed 3D head models, Plane and geometry study, Customizable lighting (environmental & studio), Adjustable rendering (edge outline, shininess), Pre-made practice scenes, Zoom, tilt, and rotate controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Access | $9.00 | per month |
| 1 Year Access | $16.00 | per year |
| 1 Year Access | $23.00 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $50.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Excellent reference tool for artists
- 🔍 Helpful for understanding head anatomy and planes
- 🔧 Customizable lighting and model features
- 💰 Reasonable subscription pricing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Premium features locked behind paywall
- 🔒 Lack of free trial to test premium content
- 🔧 Limited customization options for free users
- 🐛 Occasional technical issues with lighting and model adjustments

**Reported bugs**

- Sudden loss of model functionality after updates
- Overheating issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- Add female Loomis head models
- Expand customization options for paid users
- Implement full-body reference models
- Provide option for one-time lifetime purchase


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Manus free?

Manus costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Head Model Studio free?

Head Model Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Manus or Head Model Studio?

Head Model Studio is rated higher. Manus averages 1.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Head Model Studio averages 4.6 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do Manus or Head Model Studio have ads?

Neither Manus nor Head Model Studio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Manus or Head Model Studio?

Manus ships an update every 31 months, and Head Model Studio monthly. Most recently, Manus was updated on November 6, 2026 and Head Model Studio on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*